Wal-Mart sets rigorous sustainability standards for U.S. market

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/25/2012 12:02:27 PM

Beijing - At a sustainability event here earlier today, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. set an ambitious benchmark: by the end of 2017, 70% of goods sold in U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs will come only from suppliers that use the Sustainability Index to evaluate and disclose the sustainability of their supply chain.
And beginning next year, the company will use the index as it designs goods for its U.S. private label brands.
"Today I'm proud to announce a series of steps and commitments that will make Walmart's supply chain, in the United States, here in China, and around the world, more sustainable," said Mike Duke, president and ceo, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "The impact of these commitments will be global and make a difference with products sold around the globe."
The Sustainability Index uses metrics developed by The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), which Walmart already uses for more than 100 categories. Walmart expects to expand the use of the index to an additional 100 product categories by the end of 2012.
The aid the effort, The Walmart Foundation is donating $2 million to fund TSC in China, where it will work with industries, universities and other leaders to help suppliers become more sustainable. In addition to sustainability projects, the foundation also supports education, workforce development, and health and wellness initiatives around the world.
"We will drive progress faster and scale our work to make factories more socially and environmentally sustainable, reduce energy and water usage, and eliminate harmful emissions into rivers and the air. We will also have deeper insight into how we can make manufacturing more sustainable for people and communities in China," said Duke.